Quantitative Assessment of Airborne Exposures Generated During Common Cleaning Tasks: A Pilot Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bello A ; Milton DK ; Perry MJ ; Quinn, Margaret M.
• Description:
  Background: A growing body of epidemiologic evidence suggests an association between exposure to cleaning products with asthma and other respiratory disorders. Thus far, these studies have conducted only limited quantitative exposure assessments. Exposures from cleaning products are difficult to measure because they are complex mixtures of chemicals with a range of physicochemical properties, thus requiring multiple measurement techniques. We conducted a pilot exposure assessment study to identify methods for assessing short term, task-based airborne exposures and to quantitatively evaluate airborne exposures associated with cleaning tasks simulated under controlled work environment conditions. Methods: Sink, mirror, and toilet bowl cleaning tasks were simulated in a large ventilated bathroom and a small unventilated bathroom using a general purpose, a glass, and a bathroom cleaner. All tasks were performed for 10 minutes. Airborne total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) generated during the tasks were measured using a direct reading instrument (DRI) with a photo ionization detector. Volatile organic ingredients of the cleaning mixtures were assessed utilizing an integrated sampling and analytic method, EPA TO-17. Ammonia air concentrations were also measured with an electrochemical sensor embedded in the DRI. Results: Average TVOC concentrations calculated for 10 minute tasks ranged 0.02-6.49 ppm and the highest peak concentrations observed ranged 0.14-11 ppm. TVOC time concentration profiles indicated that exposures above background level remained present for about 20 minutes after cessation of the tasks. Among several targeted VOC compounds from cleaning mixtures, only 2-BE was detectable with the EPA method. The ten minute average 2-BE concentrations ranged 0.30-21 ppm between tasks. The DRI underestimated 2-BE exposures compared to the results from the integrated method. The highest concentration of ammonia of 2.8 ppm occurred during mirror cleaning. Conclusions: Our results indicate that airborne exposures from short-term cleaning tasks can remain in the air even after tasks' cessation, suggesting potential exposures to anyone entering the room shortly after cleaning. Additionally, 2-BE concentrations from cleaning could approach occupational exposure limits and warrant further investigation. Measurement methods applied in this study can be useful for workplace assessment of airborne exposures during cleaning, if the limitations identified here are addressed. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Air Pollutants, Occupational Asthma Asthma, Occupational Environmental Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Risk Assessment Safety Volatile Organic Compounds
• Keywords:
  2-Butoxyethanol Airborne Particles Ammonia Breathing Zone Cleaning Compounds Environmental Exposure Exposure Assessment Quantitative Risk Assessment Respiratory Irritants VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds

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• ISSN:
  1476-069X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  76
• Volume:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052287
• Citation:
  Environ Health 2010 Nov; 9:76
• Contact Point Address:
  Anila Bello, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 410 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, USA
• Email:
  abello@hsph.harvard.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  2-Butoxyethanol (CAS RN 111-76-2) ; Ammonia (CAS RN 7664-41-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Performing Organization:
  University of Massachusetts - Lowell
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19980930
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source
• End Date:
  20020929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:224008fe943e657e46aca645cd5797bb2804d10383dc016a3013433cf8e20d0d2b0d176a639b9c7dc699d711c390bbe1e27f6e2319d85b1d9851e901fbc8bfbe
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211838/cdc_211838_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 691.78 KB ]